Soldiers and civilians describe the daily toll of an unresolved conflict as Russia’s military buildup grows

The question of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine is all too real for those living on the frontlines of the ongoing conflict. Misha Novitskyi, a senior lieutenant in the Ukrainian army, lives just meters away from Russian forces stationed across a no man’s land, where the sound of enemy voices and the sight of smoke from their stoves are constant reminders of the tense situation. “Every day they shoot at us,” Novitskyi explained, underscoring the constant danger faced by soldiers and residents alike.

The conflict between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists has now lasted for nearly eight years, resembling the stalemates of World War I. Both sides are entrenched along a fixed 250-mile “border,” or line of contact, that stretches across Ukraine’s Donbas region. This area, scarred by muddy trenches, fortified positions, and the remnants of bombed-out buildings, tells the story of a prolonged and unresolved war. Novitskyi now defends a former textiles factory that has been reduced to a ghostly ruin, bearing only reminders of the danger that persists.

As tensions rise with the ongoing military buildup by Russia, soldiers and civilians remain resolute, determined not to be controlled by Putin’s regime. In a region where war has been a daily reality for years, the hope for peace seems as distant as ever, and the specter of further escalation looms large.